Automatic locking means for trunks.



G. H. WHEARY. AUTOMATIC LOCKING jvzfANsfFoR TRUNKs.

lAPPLICATION F|LEU APR.27, |914.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

/NVENTUR Hh own scmpuon, panying draw spesmtio This mwen fmtoi Lati@ mu 'wkn which passes through a medially positioned guide partition 21 forming part of the bolt casing. The outer end of the stem' of the bolt extends slidably through the yoked end 22 of an actuating rod 23 slidably mounted on the inner side of one of the walls of the Wardrobe section, and is held in engagement with the rod lyoke by a transverse pin 20.' The yoke portion 22 is of a length to permit the bolt stem to reciprocate therein a sufiicienty distance to permit the bolt to be pushed to unlocking position by the hasp member when the hasp member is pressed into locking engagement with the bolt. A heavy unlocking coil spring 25 surrounding the bolt stem and interposed between the yoked end 23 and the medial partition 21 serves to normally hold the bolt in unlocked position.. A locking coiled spring 2G also surrounding the bolt stem and interposed between the medial partition and the rectangular bolt is of less strength than the first mentioned spring and is adapted to yieldingly hold the bolt in hasp engaging position when the unlocking spring is compressed by a downward pressure exerted on the rod.v The locking end of the rectangular bolt is beveled as indicated by the numeral 19 and the inner end 17 of the hasp projection 17 is likewise beveled to provide for the automatic locking engagement of the two parts when the hasp member is pushed 'into locking position.

The actuating rod 23 extends through guide brackets 24 to a position to be cngaged by an angular plate 27 mounted on and carried by the top cover 11 so that when the top coverI is in closed position the actuating rod 23 will be pushed downwardly to such an extent as to compress the unlocking spring and permit the locking spring to move the bolt to loclfing position. The ha sp members of each lock are provided With flat springs 28 of ordinary construction Vwhich swing the hasp members to open position when released by the lock bolts.

While the cover is shown as preferably provided with a rod-engaging plate, it is to be understood that this is not absolutely necessary as the upper end of the actuating rod may be engaged by any portion of the cover.

In use the trunk portions are closed in the usual manner and if it is desired to lock the parts together it is only necessary to press the l] asp members of the respective locks to locking position and the parts Will be automatically locked. Now, if it is desired to unlock the trunk, the top cover lock is unlocked with a key and upon raising tbe top cover the actuating rod will be disengaged and the unlocking spring will slide the bolt upwardly to unlocking position and the spring actuated hasp member Will swing to open position. Vhile the cover is shown as controlling but one lock, it is to be understood that the invention, contemplates a plurality of locks controlled by the cover in the same manner.

From the foregoing description it Will be seen that the automatic locking means 'for trunks having a plurality of hinged t0- lgether elements is of very simple construction and is well adapted for the purpose desired.

lVliat claim as my invention is:

l. The combination of a trunk having a plurality of connected-together elements, of an automatic locking means therefor, consisting of a locking member for two of the elements controlled by the movement of a third element.

2. The combination of a trunk having a plurality of hinged-together elements, of an automatic locking means therefor, comprising a manually actuated locking member locking two of the elements together, and an automatic locking member locking a third element to one of. the locked-together elements, the second mentioned locking member being unlocked by e movement of one Vof the tirst mentioned locked-together elements toward its open position.

3. An automatic locking means for a trunk having a plurality of hinged-together elements, comprising a hasp member, a bolt member positioned to engage the hasp memloer, spring means for yieldingly holding the bolt member in unlocked position, and otherV means for yieldingly holding the bolt in locking position When the bolt member is're; lieved of the pressure of the irst mentioned holding means.

1L. An automatic locking means for a trunk having hinged-together elements, 'comprising a hasp member, a bolty member positioned to engage the hasp member, an actuating-member engaging the bolt, a means for imparting a tendency to the bolt to move to a locking position, and a yielding means of stronger value for counteracting said tendency.

n automatic locking means, comprising a hasp member, a bolt member positioned to engage the hasp member, an actuating member having a slidable connection with the bolt, a coiled spring engaging the actuating member and exerting a tendency to move the actuating member in a direction away from the bolt, and a means of less tendency for moving the bolt to a locking position when the coiled spring is comi Wh a guide shoulez "ahfougb which h@ stem projecs, an miami/ing' rod sdaby gugng the boli@ Stem, a Coled smroundng the bolt stem and nelposfad be? tween the'bol and the guida shoufer, and another coiled spring smfroundmg the ook stem and interposed beween the guide shoulder and the actuating rod, said last men- Oned ming G1' 2 mamon-ed .w 

